Snow vehicle



July 1, 1952 B. A. KAHLE 2,601,991

snow VEHICLE 7 Filed March 26, 1948 2 saws-4mm 1 $3 INVENTOR.

any/v0 ,4. KAHL E y 1952 B. A. KAHLE 2,601,991

' SNOW VEHICLE Filed March 26, 1948 2 SHEETS. SHEET 2 IN VEN TOR. EfiU/VU A KAI-IL E paid/fla Patented July 1, 1952 SNOW nmcm I; Bruno A, Kahle, Tomahawk wis.

Application March 2c, 1948, sears-0.11291" 2 Claims. (01. 280-19) This invention appertains to improvements in occupant carried snow vehicles and more particularly to a train type of snow vehicle made up of a plurality of flexibly connected units, which when pulled over the snow can be made to follow a zig-zag course or a whip movement to the end that travel is highly amusing and exercising to the occupants.

An important object of the invention is to provide a sled train, made up of a plurality of flexibly connected sled units which may be used in train ensemble or disconnected and used separately.

Another object of the invention is to provide a train arrangement of sled units, which when properly connected together and to a draft vehicle such as a small tractor and pulled over the snow, will produce many amusing antics highly pleasing and exercising to the occupants.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of several of the units flexibly connected together.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the units.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on a line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the units, enlarged to show the details of construction.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, reference characters A, B and denote sled units and these are shown connected flexibly together to form an elongated train. Any number of these units can be added, if there is a sufficient margin of safety, as when the train is being pulled over a field or other surface where there are no obstructions or hazards that might cause injuries.

Each of the units consists of a board or panel rounded off at its side edges as at 6, at its forward and rear edges as at l and at its corners as at 8. With the edges thus rounded off, the panel 5 is free to move laterally as well as forwardly, as there are no runners to maintain the panel on a straight forward course.

Cleats 9, H! are secured transversely upon the panel 5 at the forward and rearward ends thereof, these cleats being preferably bevelled at their inner edges as at l0 so as to eliminate any sharp edges against which the occupants might bear and bruise themselves.

The cleats are formed with horizontal openings II at the end portions thereof through which side chains l2 are trained as is clearly shown in Figure '7. These side chains extend through the cleats and at their rear ends connect to a clevis or ring l3 and at their forward ends to a like clevis or ring, while the forwardmost clevis or ring is connected to the draft fixture M of a small tractor or other draft vehicle.

A cross member l5 extends across the midportion of the paneli and risers iii are provided on the ends thereof.

Side rails I1, I! extend from the'front end of the panel 5 to the-rear end and are secured to and supported by the ends of the cleat 9 and the risers l6. Between the cross member I5 and the cleats 9 the rails l1, I! are spaced from the panel 5. so that they can be firmly gripped by the occupants. There are usually two occupants to the sled unit.

Obviously, it is immaterial whether wood, metal or some other substance is used in the construction of the elements above described.

In the use and operation of the structure described, the sled units A, B and C and as many more as practicable are connected together as above. described and the forwardmost unit connected with the tractor or other draft machine I invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A snow vehicle train comprising a plurality of sled units, each of said units comprising a flat panel having rounded edges, hand rails on the panels, cross cleats aifixed to the top of said panels and each having an opening therethrough adjacent each end thereof, a pair of side chains extending through the openings in the cleats and a ring securing each pair of adjacent ends of the chains together and to the adjacent ends of the chains of adjacent units whereby flexible connections are provided between the sled units.

2. A snow vehicle comprising a flat panel having rounded edges, hand rails on the panel, cross cleats affixed to the top of said panel and each having an opening therethrough adjacent each end thereof, a pair of chain sections disposed longitudinally over the panel and through said openings of the cleats, and connecting means between the chain sections whereby said -chain sections can be used to draw said vehicle.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 359,741 Pusey Mar. 22, 1887 1,162,473 Gedge Nov. 30, 1915 1,544,965 Bavousett July '7, 1925 1 1,845,859 Williamson Feb. 16. 1932 2,195,553 Bartlett Apr. 2, 1940 2,219,905 Prickman Oct. 29, 1940 2,448,545 ODaniel Sept. 7, 1948 15 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date BRUNO [Al Great Britain May 29, 1913 

